ALVAREZ SAYS HE FEELS NO PRESSURE; TROUT NOT WORRIED ABOUT TEXAS JUDGES

Press Release: Here are quotes from the final press conference in San Antonio, Texas where Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Austin Trout will box each other with the world junior middleweight championship at stake:

ALVAREZ, WBC champion:

“I want to thank everyone for their support…all of the media and everyone that’s helped me get here.

“I’m very happy to be here and I wish the fight was here already.

“I think words mean very little. On April 20th, we will fight and the best fighter will win.

“To be honest, I don’t feel any pressure. I believe that if you’re scared or anxious it’s because you’re not ready. I’m ready. I’m confident about this fight. As a matter of fact, I’ve never felt this ready in my life.

“I’m the kind of fighter that knows how to adapt. I can adapt to my opponent’s style anytime.

“On Saturday, expect to see two champions fighting with everything they have. I’ll be fighting with everything I’ve got.

“Knockouts are unpredictable. I can’t say that I’m going to knock Trout out, but I also can’t say I won’t.

“I’m always trying to better myself. I’ve been training very hard, and God willing, I’ll come out victorious on Saturday. I’ll show my fans what I’m made of.

“This fight is a great test for me, but it’s a difficult one. Trout is a complicated fighter with a complicated style, but I like challenges. I enjoy challenges and that’s why I’ve accepted this fight, because it’s a big challenge.

“I feel good. I feel as good as I’ve ever felt. I’m ready. I feel the adrenaline. I’m eager to walk into the ring and hear that bell.”

TROUT, WBA champion:

“I want to thank Canelo Alvarez for being a hungry fighter, making his demands known and putting his foot down to make this happen. I’m a hungry fighter and I want to fight the best.

“I’m not worried about the officials or the judging. I’m not worried about being in a hostile territory. All I can worry about is the opponent that I have in the ring.

“We’ve worked hard in this camp because we know who we’re going up against. It’s not going to be a walk in the park, but we never asked for easy. We want these challenges to prove our worth to the boxing world and that I’m the best 154-pound champion. On Saturday, we’re going to let our fists do the talking and I have no doubt that my hand will be raised.

“It’s all about the experience. He may have more fights, but I feel like I have more experience than he does between my amateur career and the opponents that I’ve faced. My last fights, aside from Miguel Cotto, everybody has been bigger. I’ve fought some middleweights and super middleweights.

“This is something that I’ve been dreaming about, literally, for the last two months. I wake myself up boxing him, throwing punches and what not. I’m a very visual person so it’s been something that I’ve been visualizing and now we get to see it come to real life. I believe it’s going to play out the way I’ve been seeing it in my head.

“Trout Nation is a lot bigger than they [Team Canelo] thought. We have a lot of fans that are here and excited about me fighting in San Antonio. The love is very heartfelt and I’m just soaking it all in.

“I’m expecting to see a win in my favor. I’m expecting to see a good fight, I’m expecting nothing but the best from Canelo. We’re just excited to go in there and get this WBC title that we’ve been looking for.

“He’s never fought anybody my size. The fighters he’s faced have been welterweights and even junior welterweights. He’s done what he’s supposed to do with everyone that they’ve put in front of him, so I give credit to him for that, but, at the same time, I’m not cut from the same cloth as those guys.”

The cchief support bout will be a ten-round fight between undefeated lightweights Omar Figueroa Jr. of Weslaco, Texas and Abner Cotto of Caguas, Puerto Rico

FIGUEROA:

“This is a great fight card. I think the main event will be the best fight of 2013. I’m as excited for the main event as I am for my own fight. I’m not going to say I’m going to win my fight, I’m not going to say I’m going to lose my fight, the only thing I can promise is that I’m going to fight with the heart and the passion that I always fight with, and hopefully, we come out on top.

“I don’t think he [Abner Cotto] will be the toughest opponent I’ve faced. I think Michael Perez was the most formidable opponent I’ve had and we all know how I came out in that one. We’re hoping for the same result in this one.

“Being able to fight in front of this many fans is an honor, but being able to do it in your own home state is a blessing.

“We worked hard for this fight and it’s hard to believe it happened. I used to be in that back row [on the dais] and now I’m sitting in the front with the champions. It’s just a dream come true.

“I’m looking forward to a good fight. I want the best for the fans. They’re what make this sport happen, so I just want to give them my best.”

COTTO:

“I can tell you that I’m ready for this fight. This is biggest fight of my career. We know our opponent Omar Figueroa Jr. very well. We know that he’s a very strong fighter, but I’m ready for this fight and will bring the victory home to Puerto Rico.

“We love challenges and Saturday is going to be a prime example. I want to thank my team, all the fans that bought tickets and everyone watching on television. It’s going to be a great fight.”

JOSE “CHEPO” REYNOSO, Canelo’s Manager

“At this time, there’s not much to say. I don’t have many words. All I can say is that on Saturday, Canelo will come out victorious and we’ll be dedicating this win to Rigoberto [Canelo’s brother].”

EDDY REYNOSO, Canelo’s Trainer

“We have a our work cut out for us as always. We’re very focused on our work. We’re ready for battle.

“A champion that is at this level made it here because of a lot of hard work and dedication.

“We’ve worked really hard to show that Canelo is the best 154-pound fighter in the world and that he’s ready for the fight.”

UNDERCARD BOXERS:

JERMALL CHARLO:

“Saturday is going to be crazy with 40 thousand people in the stands. I’m part of the future of boxing. Everyone needs to tune in.”

JULIAN WILLIAMS:

“I’m really excited to be on this card. It’s a blessing. I want to fight one of these guys someday [pointing to Canelo and Trout].

TERRELL GAUSHA, 2012 United States Olympian:

“I’m blessed to have the opportunity be on this big stage around so many great fighters. I want to put on a great performance.

“One day I’m going to be sitting in one of these front seats [pointing to Canelo and Trout].”

RAUL MARTINEZ:

“It’s a great feeling to be in the presence of fighters like Miguel Cotto and Oscar De La Hoya and to be trained by Jesse James Leija.

“Being on a card with Canelo and Trout, both great champions, is what boxers dream of. It’s so motivating for me. I’m in the gym everyday training hard and it’s paying off.

“I want to welcome everyone to the Alamodome. Get there early and watch me get a great knockout.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions

“Neither one of these guys [Alvarez or Trout] had to take this fight. This is great for the sport that we love dearly.

“Austin Trout is willing to take on any comers. It goes to show you Austin Trout’s character. He isn’t afraid to go into his opponents’ backyards. He’s a fighter that went into Miguel Cotto’s backyard in New York City and had a tremendous victory against a tremendous champion.

“You don’t see fights like the one you’re going to see Saturday night [often]. Fighters are usually too afraid to take on the best in their division, but not these two.

“[On Omar Figueroa vs. Abner Cotto] This is the type of fight we look forward to…young, undefeated guys that aren’t afraid to take a risk.

“If you’re going to go out there and take a risk and fight hard, then there is no loser. Win or lose, great fighters will be back for more. This is what makes boxing the sport that it is. These fighters are going to come out and fight with their hearts.

“[On Canelo vs. Trout] When you put two young hungry fighters together, you get the best. The fans will be the winners because they know they will see a great fight.

“We call Canelo the total package, not only for his abilities, but because he wants to face the best.

“This is a testament to Canelo’s confidence in his skills. We are truly excited to be working with Canelo.”

JESSE JAMES LEIJA, local promoter:

“The history of the Alamodome and boxing goes back 20 years, since 1993 when Julio Cesar Chavez fought Pernell Whitaker. Don King had six months to get that fight together. We had about six weeks.

“We have 40 thousand people coming and that is because of these amazing fighters and the fight card on Saturday night.

“Mike Battah and I have been working very hard to make sure everyone comes out and acknowledges that we have two great fighters and one great night.”

MIKE BATTAH, President of Leija and Battah Promotions

“We’re building boxing again in Texas in a big way and it’s happening this Saturday night.

“We’re very happy, proud and honored that fans support us here. This is what boxing is about.

“I want fans to keep coming to the fights and I will work until I die to make this sport the best.”

NICHOLAS LANGELLA, Alamodome General Manager

“Oscar De La Hoya is an institution here in San Antonio. The Alamodome is very excited to be bringing this highly coveted match-up to our city.

“San Antonio has long been a host to many championship events. Saturday night continues that long tradition. Welcome to San Antonio. We are going to have a great time on Saturday night.”